A lighting system for a halogen lamp in a duplicating machine

ABSTRACT

A halogen exposure lamp in a copying machine is controlled to provide a voltage less than the rated voltage for preheating the halogen lamp and is periodically energized with a voltage in excess of its rated voltage for exposing an original. The halogen lamp can be controlled by connecting additional voltage sources to the lamp or by controlling the conductive phase angle of the effective voltage applied to the lamp.

United States Patent [191 Nakamura Oct. 9, 1973 LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR AHALOGEN LAMP IN A DUPLICATING MACHINE [75] Inventor: KitamaroNakamura,Toyokawa,

Japan [73 Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha,

()suku-shi, ()sziku-fu, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1970 |2| 1 Appl. No.:86,540

[52] US. Cl. 355/69, 95/l1.5 [51] Int. Cl. G03b 27/76 [58] Field ofSearch 355/69; 95/11.5;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,710 12/1914 Goldensky95/11.5

7/1942 Wuerfel ..95/l1.5 2/1938 Hineline ..95/1l.5

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan AttorneyWatson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A halogen exposure lamp in a copying machine is controlledto provide a voltage less than the rated voltage for preheating thehalogen lamp and is periodically energized with a voltage in excess ofits rated voltage for exposing an original. The halogen lamp can becontrolled by connecting additional voltage sources to the lamp or bycontrolling the conductive phase angle of the effective voltage appliedto the lamp.

5 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDUET 9% 3,764,210

SHEEI 20? 6 P AI LuX INVENTOR BY ,7 46%; hizgaoaZ/Z ATTORNEYPA-TENTEDUET 91915 3,764,210

SHEET 3 UP 6 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEU 9W5 3,764,210

SHEEI If 6 BY T" ATTORNEY PMENTED 3.764.210

SHEET 50F 6 INVENTOR PATENTEB 9W5 3.764.210

SHEET 6 0F 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to an energization system for a halogen lamp in acopying machine and more particularly relates to such a system for ahalogen lamp, wherein in an electronic copying machine and the like whencopying for a long time is continuously done, during the exposurelighting higher voltage than the rated voltage of the halogen lamp isimpressed to effect the lighting for a short time to increase thecopying speed without ruining the life of the halogen lamp.

Up to the present time, a lamp for a copying machine has been lit, inthe case of exposure lighting, by impressing its rated voltage or alower voltage to keep its integrated lighting time as long as possiblein order to elevate the copying capacity and endurance of the electriclamp.

However, such a use is in disregard of the special feature of a copyingmachine and not useful at all for increasing the copying capacity of theelectric lamp. That is, an exposure electric lamp for a copying machineis by no means used for continuous lighting for a long time and afterthe short exposure lighting time is done said lamp should be put out fora while in order to exchange the original copy or the sensitive paperand subsequently lit again, and that sequence intermittently repeated.And yet, the copying efficiency of the copying machine depends upon thecopying speed, and provided the time mechanically required forexchanging the original copy or the sensitive paper is constant it isfixed by the exposure time. Moreover, the copying efficiency of theelectric lamp in the copying machine does not depend upon the integratedlighting time of the electric lamp but it depends upon the copying timesfor which the electric lamp is required to be used as an exposure lightsource, namely, the copying sheet number endurance.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is toprovide an energizing system for a halogen lamp in a copying machine,wherein the lighting time for exposure of the halogen lamp is short andthe efficiency is very high.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an energizingsystem for an exposure electric lamp, wherein the exposure time can beshortened without reducing the copying sheet number endurance of thelamp.

Further another object of the present invention is to provide anenergizing system for a halogen lamp, for providing an exposure, whereinthe halogen electric lamp is impressed with a higher voltage than therated voltage of the lamp for a short time, and by keeping the halogencycle of the halogen electric lamp the copying speed of the copyingmachine is increased and in addition the copying sheet number enduranceof the halogen electric lamp is increased.

Furthermore another object of the present invention is to provide alighting system for a halogen lamp, wherein in order to attain theobjects described above the variation of the impressed voltage iseffected by controlling an electric power source having a highereffective voltage than the rated voltage by means of a semiconductorcontrol device.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent bythe embodiments disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lightingsystem for a halogen lamp in an electronic copying machine soconstructed that a halogen lamp is used as a light source and when anoriginal copy and a sensitive paper are positioned in the exposureposition, lighting for exposure is done, and meanwhile the sensitivepaper and the original copy are replaced a lower voltage than the ratedvoltage is impressed to preheat the halogen lamp, and thereby lightingfor exposure intermittently lit as described above is effected byimpressing a higher voltage by 10 to 300 percent than the rated voltagefor 0.] to 2 seconds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram ofa priorart embodiment, which is a type for putting out an electric lamp exceptduring the exposure lighting time.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of another prior art embodiment, which isthe same type as that in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of embodiment, which is the same type asthat in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the experimental values on which the relationbetween brightness of the electric lamp to the impressed voltage, theelectric power, and the electric current consumption are actuallymeasured.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of still another prior art embodiment, whichis the same type as that of the above embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram ofa final prior art embodiment, which is thesame type as that of the above embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the first embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, which is a type so formed that a halogen electriclamp is put to use as an exposure electric lamp and the exposurelighting and the electric lamp preheat lighting are effected by twoelectric power sources. 7 I

FIG. 8 shows the wave form of the voltage impressed on the electric lampin the FIG. 7 embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the second embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, which is the same type as mentioned above.

FIG. 10 shows the wave form of the voltage of the FIG. 9 embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the third embodiment in accordance withthe prevent invention, which is a type so formed that a halogen electriclamp is put to use as an exposure electric lamp, and the exposurelighting and the electric lamp preheat lighting are effected bycontrolling a voltage of one electric power source of higher voltagethan the rated voltage of the electric lamp by means of a semiconductorcontrol device.

FIGS. 12A and 128 show the wave form of the voltage impressed on thehalogen lamp, wherein FIG. 12(A) is the voltage wave form during theelectric lamp preheat lighting time and FIG. 12(B) is the voltage waveform during the exposure lighting time.

' FIG. 13 shows the fourth embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention, which is of the same form as mentioned above.

FIGS. 14A and 143 show the wave form of the impressed voltage in theFIG. 13 embodiment, wherein FIG. 14(A) is during the electric lamppreheat lighting time and FIG. 14(B) is during the exposure lightingtime.

FIG. 15 is a sectional arrangement plan, showing an example of anelectronic copying machine making use of an energizing system for ahalogen lamp in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT In FIGS. from 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5, 6,electric lamp 1 is a conventional incandescent lamp or a halogenelectric lamp in which globe halogen gas is enclosed.

The conventional incandescent lamp is designed to be durable for about1000 hours when continuously lit at a certain voltage, and the voltageat that time is fixed as the rated voltage of the electric lamp.

Whereas, when the electric lamp is continuously lit with a highervoltage than the rated voltage, it is known in general that its life issuddenly reduced in inverse proportion to the thirteenth power of theratio of the lighting voltage to the rated voltage.

In contradistinction thereto, the halogen electric lamp is designed tobe durable for continuous lighting of about 2000 hours while maintainingthe lighting brightness higher than the brightness of the conventionalincandescent lamp.

Further, in the copying machine when a sensitive paper is properlysupplied switch 3 is closed to effect the exposure lighting, and whenthe sensitive paper or an original copy and the sensitive paper isexchanged the light is extinguished. And, only when the uniformlycharged sensitive paper receives the image exposure is switch 3 closedto effect lighting, and at all other times switch 3 is opened and thelight is out so as to prevent undesirable light-breaking to thesensitive paper prior to charging and light-breaking to the sensitivepaper after image exposure and prior to fixing. Such operation alsosaves power consumption and prevents the light source enclosure fromover-heating.

Therefore, also in the case where copying is continuously repeated, theopening/closing of switch 3 is repeated as is on and off cycle ofelectric lamp 1.

And, in the case where the conventional incandescent lamp is cycled,when the rated voltage is applied to the lamp it takes a considerabletime to obtain the normal light flux thereof after the switch is turnedon, and even in the case where a halogen electric lamp is put to use apreheating time of about from 0.3 to 0.5 seconds is required, which isthe limit of the shortened exposure time in a copying machine of theturn on and off type.

Thereupon, in the respective embodiments mentioned above in accordancewith the prior art a voltage more than the rated voltage is arranged tobe applied between A and B.

In the prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 1, terminals A, B connected toan AC power source of 110 volts are connected to the primary winding oftransformer 2 through switch 3 so as to generate a voltage of 150 voltsin the secondary winding thereof. And in the secondary winding halogenelectric lamp 1 having a rated voltage of 110 volts is inserted to lightonly at the exposure time in boosting the impressed voltage to about 1.4times as much as the rated voltage.

The second prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is used for a readerprinter for obtaining print picture images of good contrast by makinguse of electric lamp 1 having a rated voltage such as 12 or 24 volts,which light source area is small and is lit for a short time with ahigher power voltage than the rated voltage of electric lamp 1 whenswitch 3 is closed.

In the third prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 3, halogen electric lamp1 having a rated voltage of H0 volts is connected to an AC 220 voltspower source through switch 3 and diode 4, and the wave form of thepower voltage is converted to a single wave sine wave by diode 4, andelectric lamp 1 is lit only at the exposure time by closing switch 3.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the experimental results actually measured withthe third prior art embodiment, wherein the input voltage of two 300watts halogen electric lamps having a rated voltage of H0 volts ischanged from volts to 240 volts, and the lamps are cycled at 0.2lighting and 1.0 second off. Thus the intensity of illumination L at ahorizontal position 20 cm from the electric lamp may be measured, andthe consumption current A] is observed by a movable iron piece type ACammeter and the consumption power P, is observed by anelectro-dynamometer type wattmeter.

As seen in FIG. 4, the intensity of illumination L increases more thantwo times relative to the increase of consumption power P, and byimpressing an overvoltage the effect of the brightness of the electriclamp per consumption power is remarkably increased.

The consumption power P is composed of the product of the impressedvoltage V and the consumption current Al so that provided the internalresistance of the electric lamp is R,

Whereas, the impressed voltage V and the light flux L given from theelectric lamp are as follows:

( U) a o) wherein V, is the rated voltage of the electric lamp and L, isthe light flux given therefrom.

This is known in general, and from the aforementioned experimentalresults the following result is confirmed:

That is, in the aforementioned experiment, for example, when a voltageof I50 percent of the rated voltage is impressed on the electric lampthe lower consumption is about two times as much as that in the case ofthe rated voltage, whereas the brightness of the electric lamp increasesabout five times as much. However, even though the impressed voltage isincreased less than 10 percent relative to the rated voltage, thateffect is hardly observed.

If an attempt is made to obtain about five times the brightness bylighting an electric lamp with the rated voltage thereof in the knownway, from five to six times the normal power is required and accordinglya power source of a large capacity is required. Additionally theelectric lamp itself must be much larger and the cost of wiring is alsoincreased. Further, an efficient cooling fan is required in order toprevent the copying machine from overheating and the other secondaryequipment must also be larger, therefore, such an attempt is almostimpossible to realize.

As described above, when the impressed voltage is 1.5 times as much asthe rated voltage the continuous lighting life of the electric lamp isshortened in inverse proportion to (1.5), however, as described above ina copying machine only continuous lighting for a short time is required,so that its life is not shortened so much. In addition, as describedabove the brightness is very high, so that respective exposure times areremarkably shortened as compared with the exposure time required withthe rated voltage. In the aforementioned experiment halogen electriclamp 1 having a rated voltage of l volts is used, and when an AC voltageof 220 volts (effective voltage 157 volts) is applied to electric lamp 1by switch 3 to effect intermittent lighting of 0.2 second on and 1second off it was confirmed that the electric lamp is endurable enoughto light 676,000 times. And, with the high voltage it is possible toprovide enough copying exposure for 0.2 second, and accordingly it meansthat it is possible to copy about 670,000 sheets. Besides, in theaforementioned experiment, the impressed voltage is increased in orderto provide the proper exposure by lighting for 0.1 second, however, theendurance of the number of copies endurance is suddenly decreased. Thisis seemed to result because the halogen cycle of the halogen electriclamp is hardly completed in such a short time.

Further, it has been discovered that when the impressed voltage isincreased more than three times the rated voltage of the electric lamp,even though the time required to carry out the halogen cycle isprovided, the disconnection of the filaments is suddenly increased auditis impractical.

Next, consider the copying speed (copying efficiency) making use of thelighting system in accordance with the present invention. In the caseoflighting with the rated voltage the copying paper is replaced forabout 3 seconds and the exposure is effected for 3 seconds, and therebythe copying efficiency is about 10 sheets a minute, whereas, accordingto the invention, when the sensitive paper is replaced for 1 second andthe exposure time of 0.2 second can be disregarded, so that it ispossible to copy about 60 sheets a minute and increase by six times theefficiency. Supposing in the system for effecting the exposure byimpressing the rated voltage, the time for replacing the sensitive paperis shortened to 1 second in the same manner as described above, and thecopying efficiency is sheets a minute, therefore, the system canincrease the efficiency by about 4 times.

In the fourth prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 5, electric lamp 1 andsilicon control rectifier element 5, and electric lamp 1' and siliconcontrol rectifier element 5 are connected to the power source, and thehigher effective voltage is provided by a higher power source than therated voltage.

In the fifth prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with thepresent invention, AC control element 6 (such as a Triac) is used andthe lighting is effected by changing the conductive phase angle of thewave form of the power voltage by means of variable resistance 7 andcondenser 8. And, by using such a power source with an effective voltagelarger than the.

rated voltage of electric lamp 1 at a maximum phase angle (180), it ispossible to change the effective voltage impressed on electric lamp 1 bychanging variable resistance 7.

Also in the fourth and fifth prior art embodiments, the same facts as inthe experimental example described above in the third prior artembodiment are established.

The above has been described for the system effecting the exposure byturning on and off intermittently electric lamp 1, however, when ahalogen electric lamp is used as a light source electric lamp, thebrightness of the filament of halogen electric lamp is designed to behigher than that of the conventional lamp or the electric lamp in whichrare gas is enclosed. The halogen gas enclosed therein produces theso-called halogen cycle to prevent the filament of the electric lampfrom evaporating so as to maintain a long operating life. However, forthis purpose the halogen gas is necessary to be preheated up to acertain temperature. Furthermore, before the electric lamp gets to acertain brightness for the impressed voltage a stand by time to someextent is required, and when the electric lamp is being cooled down toroom temperature the stand by time is more prolonged than when it isbeing preheated. Further, when the halogen lamp is lit, if it is beingcooled down to the room temperature more electric current than necessaryruns through the filament the moment the voltage is impressed, and thepower voltage drops remarkably resulting in a short-circuit in theextreme case. And, in order to prevent that even though an adjustment ismade by such an adjusting device as a relay, more wiring and capacitythan necessary are required for the copying machine, therefore, thecopying machine becomes complex and large-sized.

Thereupon, instead of a turn on and off type, in the first embodiment inaccordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 6, wherein in order topreheat the light source electric lamp intermittently, by alwaysimpressing a lower voltage than the rated voltage of the halogen lamp itis preheated by the current thereof and the high brightness is effectedby applying a higher power voltage than the rated voltage only at theintermittent exposure lighting time.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with the presentinvention, which is composed of circuit (1) wherein halogen electriclamp 1 is connected in series to AC power source 2, having a ratedvoltage lower than that of lamp 1, auxiliary switch 3,, and resistance9,; and pulse oscillating circuit (11) wherein halogen electric lamp 1is connected in series to AC power source 2 which is in' the same phaseas AC power source 2, and of a higher voltage than the rated voltage ofelectric lamp 1, switch 3 and resistance 9,. These two circuits (1),(11) being are connected in parallel with each other as shown in FIG. 7and switch 3 is closed when the sensitive paper is on the exposureopening plate (16 in FIG. 5).

And thus, as shown in FIG. 8 when auxiliary switch 3, is closed, a lowervoltage a of AC power source 2,

than the rated voltage c of lamp 1 is provided, and halogen electriclamp 1 is preheated. However, lamp 1 is lit at a brightness low enoughto produce fog on the sensitive paper. Next, for an exposure lighting,when switch 3 is closed voltage I; of the same phase as voltage a isimpressed and onto halogen electric lamp 1 a higher effective voltagethan the rated voltage c is impressed to effect a high brightness, andwhen switch 3 is opened preheating voltage a is impressed again.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, in order to impress an ACvoltage a lower than the rated voltage c to preheat'halogen electriclamp 1, AC power source 2 is used, and for exposure lighting when switch3., is closed a half-wave rectified voltage of AC power source 2., bymeans of rectifier is impressed, and the voltage shown in FIG. 10b isimpressed to make a higher voltage than the rated voltage of halogenelectric lamp 1.

Such a lighting system for preheating halogen electric lamp 1 allowshalogen electric lamp 1 to generate a low brightness at the preheatingtime and for example, in a reader printer and the like it can be usedfor observation lighting as well.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11, one power source is used andthe conductive phase angle is controlled by capacitor 8 connected to thegate of thyristor 6 and two resistances 7a, 7b connected in series tocapacitor 8. And by changing over between the exposure time andpreheating or observation time by means of both resistance 7a, 7b andchange over switch 3, a higher effective voltage for the exposurelighting than the rated voltage and a lower effective voltage forpreheating and observation than the rated voltage are impressedalternately onto halogen electric lamp 1. That is, when change overswitch 3 is connected to contact 3 the node potential of fixedresistance 70 and capacitor 8 is supplied to the gate of thyristor 6,and the conductive phase angle of voltage d of the AC power sourceconnected tocontacts A, B becomes the phase between e,fshown in FIG.12A. However, that voltage is lower than the rated voltage so thathalogen electric lamp 1 generates a low brightness for preheating-orobservation, and when change over switch 3 is changed over to contact 3bthe node potential of variable resistance 7b and capacitor 8 isimpressed onto the gate of thyristor 6 and the conductive phase anglebecomes g, fshown in FIG. 128 relative to power voltage d. And by makingthe effective voltage higher than the rated voltage of electric lamp 1 ahigh brightness for a short time exposure can be effected.

In this embodiment, the reason why resistance 7b is variable is toenable the impressed voltage for the exposure lighting to be adjustable.Besides, in this embodiment by making both resistances 7a, 7b variableboth voltages at the exposure lighting time and the preheating orobservation lighting time can be made changeable, and by making bothresistances fixed both impressed voltages can be held constant as well.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 in accordancewith the presentinvention, both impressed voltages are held constant and variableresistance 7b in the third embodiment is replaced with rectifier 10. Andthus, when change over switch 3 is on contact 3a, with the conductivephase angle corresponding to resistance 7a and capacitor 8, thyristor 6conducts between phase angles e,fshown in FIG. 14A to effect thepreheating or observation lighting of electric lamp 1 with a voltagelower than the rated voltage. When changed over to contact 3b a highervoltage than the rated voltage of halogen lamp 1, which is produced by ahalf-wave rectification of the power voltage, is impressed and therebythe exposure lighting can be effected.

As shown in the third and fourth embodiments, when a thyristor is used,as compared with the case where the power voltage is varied by atransformer the voltage at the change over is stable and very effectiveto prolong the life of halogen lamp 1.

FIG. 15 is a plan of an example of an electronic copying machine usingthe lighting system with a halogen lamp in accordance with theembodiments described above, wherein original copy 11 is illuminatedthrough condenser lens 14 by halogen lamp 1 in light source housing 13and the images thereof are formed through copying lens 15 below exposureopening plate 16 on sensitive paper 12 carried by belt 17 driven byroller 18. Numeral 3 is a switch which is closed or changed over whensensitive paper 12 comes right below exposure opening plate 16, and asdescribed in detail in the respective embodiments a higher exposurelighting voltage than the rated voltage is impressed on lamp I.

Also, numeral 19 denotes a corona discharge device for giving anelectric charge to the exposed sensitive paper. And 20 is a developingdevice for the sensitive paper, and 21 is a drying and fixing device,and between them sensitive paper 12 is carried by roller group 22. Inthe copying machine, between switch 3 and halogen lamp 1 there isconnected the circuit described respectively in the aforementionedembodiments.

I claim:

1. A lighting system for a halogen lamp in an electronic copyingmachine, comprising:

a halogen lamp;

an AC electric power source for generating an effective voltage higherby 10 to 300 percent than the rated voltage of said halogen lamp;

means for changing the conductive phase angle of the power applied tosaid halogen lamp; and

means for selecting the conductive phase angle of said means forchanging the conductive phase angle between a conductive phase angle forapplying an effective voltage to said halogen lamp lower than the ratedvoltage thereof to preheat said halogen lamp for maintaining the halogencycle thereof and a conductive phase angle for applying an effectivevoltage higher by 10 to 300 percent than the rated voltage thereof tolight said halogen lamp for 0.1 to 2 seconds.

2. A lighting system as in claim 1, wherein said means for changing theconductive phase angle includes a silicon control rectifier.

3. A lighting system as in claim 1, wherein said means for changing theconductive phase angle includes a Thyristor.

4. A lighting system as in claim 1, wherein said means for changing theconductive phase angle includes a controlled gate, and said means forselecting the conductive phase angle includesa resistor and a rectifierconnected in parallel with each other and serially connected to saidelectric power source and said halogen lamp, a capacitor for applying acharged voltage to said gate, and a change-overswitch for selectivelyconnecting said gate to said capacitor.

5. A lighting system as in claim I, wherein said means for changing theconductive phase angle includes a controlled gate, and said means forselecting the conductive phase angle includes a fixed resistor and avariable resistor connected in parallel with each other and seriallyconnected to said electric power source and said halogen lamp, acapacitor for applying a charged voltage to said gate, and a change-overswitch for selectively connecting said capacitor to said gate.

i i *8 t t

1. A lighting system for a halogen lamp in an electronic copyingmachine, comprising: a halogen lamp; an AC electric power source forgenerating an effective voltage higher by 10 to 300 percent than therated voltage of said halogen lamp; means for changing the conductivephase angle of the power applied to said halogen lamp; and means forselecting the conductive phase angle of said means for changing theconductive phase angle between a conductive phase angle for applying aneffective voltage to said halogen lamp lower than the rated voltagethereof to preheat said halogen lamp for maintaining the halogen cyclethereof and a conductive phase angle for applying an effective voltagehigher by 10 to 300 percent than the rated voltage thereof to light saidhalogen lamp for 0.1 to 2 seconds.
 2. A lighting system as in claim 1,wherein said means for changing the conductive phase angle includes asilicon control rectifier.
 3. A lighting system as in claim 1, whereinsaid means for changing the conductive phase angle includes a Thyristor.4. A lighting system as in claim 1, wherein said means for changing theconductive phase angle includes a controlled gate, and said means forselecting the conductive phase angle includes a resistor and a rectifierconnected in parallel with each other and serially connected to saidelectric power source and said halogen lamp, a capacitor for applying acharged voltage to said gate, and a change-over switch for selectivelyconnecting said gate to said capacitor.
 5. A lighting system as in claim1, wherein said means for changing the conductive phase angle includes acontrolled gate, and said means for selecting the conductive phase angleincludes a fixed resistor and a variable resistor connected in parallelwith each other and serially connected to said electric power source andsaid halogen lamp, a capacitor for applying a charged voltage to saidgate, and a change-over switch for selectively connecting said capacitorto said gate.